Question On Solid Gold 149

[Bambuko]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently looking at a 1980's series MB 149 Diplomat. The pen is solid gold with a gold dome. I have heard some say that if the pen has a gold dome, it's not really made in-house but commissioned to a third party jeweler for an overlay. I can't confirm either so I thought I'd ask you guys.

 

Can anyone please shed more light on this and how it impacts the pen's value? I've been shopping around for prices and have seen quite a range on these as well.

 

Would greatly appreciate your insight on this. Cheers!

[Barry Gabay]

Those with the gold dome and engraved MB star are custom jobs. As such, they are rarer and sometimes more valuable than the factory-production ones. It's all a matter of taste as to whether you prefer factory production or something unique. I have handled and examined only one of the gold-domed 149s and negotiated for it, but it was ultimately too expensive for me. It had had only two previous owners (both German) in the roughly 25 years since production. It was accompanied by the bill of sale for each transaction. Bonham's (Knightsbridge) offered at least three of the custom solid gold 149s during the 1990s. Dec 1995, jeweler S.J.Rose, 9K overlay with an unusually long and unique piston cone. Nov 1996, another 9K S.J.Rose custom solid gold overlay with a personal or company logo engraved on the cap crown below the outlined MB star. July 1998 by jeweler Pascal Morabito with 18K French markings. The nibs, feed, and internal mechanisms are all regular MB production. This is because the pens are standard 149s with solid-gold overlays.

 

Good luck with your research and perhaps with your new pen.

[Bambuko]

Thanks very much for the information. From what I can see in the photos, the pen has a solid gold dome but I do not see any inscription or engraving of a star. For clarity's sake, I am referring to the cap dome.

[Maxpens]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently looking at a 1980's series MB 149 Diplomat. The pen is solid gold with a gold dome. I have heard some say that if the pen has a gold dome, it's not really made in-house but commissioned to a third party jeweler for an overlay. I can't confirm either so I thought I'd ask you guys.

 

Can anyone please shed more light on this and how it impacts the pen's value? I've been shopping around for prices and have seen quite a range on these as well.

 

Would greatly appreciate your insight on this. Cheers!

 

 

The first 149 ( 80´s ) with solid gold overlays are made in a little factory close to Pforzheim/Germany from B&E. Later in a little subsidiary company close to Hamburg. Then, again later, from B&E ( BOSSERT & ERHART KG ) The early 80´s where made only in a little quantity. Here is a picture of a 50´s 149 http://www.maxpens.de/bilder/149jew.htm and this is a 90´s 149 ; http://www.maxpens.de/bilder/149ma.htm

 

kind regards

 

Max

[Barry Gabay]

Beautiful photos, Max! Thank you for posting them. There is also the 1990s factory-produced chevron design with three colors of metal: yellow & green gold and platinum, I believe. The two made by the jeweler Rose offered by Bonham's had a very intricate barley pattern on the caps & barrels but smooth cap crown and piston cone.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Barry Gabay

[Bambuko]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently looking at a 1980's series MB 149 Diplomat. The pen is solid gold with a gold dome. I have heard some say that if the pen has a gold dome, it's not really made in-house but commissioned to a third party jeweler for an overlay. I can't confirm either so I thought I'd ask you guys.

 

Can anyone please shed more light on this and how it impacts the pen's value? I've been shopping around for prices and have seen quite a range on these as well.

 

Would greatly appreciate your insight on this. Cheers!

 

 

The first 149 ( 80´s ) with solid gold overlays are made in a little factory close to Pforzheim/Germany from B&E. Later in a little subsidiary company close to Hamburg. Then, again later, from B&E ( BOSSERT & ERHART KG ) The early 80´s where made only in a little quantity. Here is a picture of a 50´s 149 http://www.maxpens.de/bilder/149jew.htm and this is a 90´s 149 ; http://www.maxpens.de/bilder/149ma.htm

 

kind regards

 

Max

 

Max - thanks very much for the information. This was very helpful.

[Freddy]

Barry...from 1998/1999 catalogue.

 

 

 

Fred

[Barry Gabay]

Fred, I'll have the one on the left, please. Actually, make it two of those. Thank you.

Edited August 25, 2011 by Barry Gabay

[FredRydr]

Barry,

 

I'll send two to you tomorrow, gratis*, since I prefer the fine herringbone pattern on the current models in sterling or gold, better than any of the older designs.

 

Fred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Don't hold your breath.

[Pen Nut]

I like this overlaid 149

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad114/Pen-Nut/mb4.jpg

 

 

 

But my favourite is this one, a painting of which hangs on my wall

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad114/Pen-Nut/a2.jpg